Levitating

Vinley Dolvion

I’ve always loved Diagon Alley. It was the only place I was allowed to associate with the lower class and everyone was so fascinating. The tall old buildings loomed over my head as mother and I walked down the wide cobblestone street. The shops were busy, as usual, but especially so due to the fact that school started in less than a week. We’d been here for nearly an hour and had only made it in and out of three shops; Mother was getting frustrated. Not only were the stores so crowded with children and parents, there were also reporters sneaking into the groups of people around us. They were always desperate for a story, even if it was as boring as the Dolvion family going shopping. We were also accompanied by two of our most trusted members of security, Elias and Phel, who chased off anyone that got too close. I turned to my mother as I felt her pull me closer to the side of the street.

“We’ll never get all our shopping done at this rate,” Mother huffed, a pinched look on her face, “I’ll send you with Elias and Phel to Madam Malkins while I head to get your potions supplies from the apothecary. Then, we’ll meet back at Flourish and Blotts to get your books, understand? Good, off you go.” She said with a nod, before promptly turning around and walking down a sidestreet.

“Alright then,” I looked up at my two guards, which were somewhat family to us as they had been the first additions to my security team after a break in when I was a baby. They’re basically really overprotective uncles. “Let’s go.”

We continue walking down the street, one of them on either side of me, until we stop outside of Madam Malkins to get fitted for my robes. Phel opens one of the double doors and I walk in, the two muscled men following behind me. I stand at the counter in the waiting room, impatiently huffing when no one comes out from the back within the first few minutes. I step forward closer to the desk, reaching over and tapping the old bronze bell. I reach my hand out next to me, and a handkerchief is placed in my palm for me to wipe my hand on. Just as I give it back to Elias I hear a great clattering in the main fitting area, hidden behind velvet purple curtains. I don’t move as a plump woman, barely any taller than me, with large silver hair piled on top of her head comes falling through the curtains. She catches herself less than a foot away from my face, standing up and dusting herself off. But, looking up at my face, and at the two large wizards on either side of me, she takes a step back as recognition flashes through her eyes.

“Miss Dolvion, It’s a pleasure,” Madam Malkin gives me a deep nod, keeping her eyes low. “What can I help you with today, Hogwarts robes I’m assuming?”

“Yes, I am in quite a rush as well; they must be finished by tomorrow.” I say quietly and firmly, with what mother calls my “people voice”.

“Of course, of course, I will close the shop early if necessary, Miss,” Madam Malkin nods fervently. “Come, I’ll get you fitted right away.”

Madam Malkin ushered me towards the back, stepping through the curtains with a wide swipe of her wand to open them. I moved forward, waiting for Elias and Phel to part the curtains on each side of me. Stepping on one of the stands in the center of the room I was immediately met with a glass of ice water floating in front of me on one side, and a fabric palette on the other. I didn’t even need to look through the options, I already knew what I wanted; cashmere. Mother told me most opted for heavy wool robes, but both her and I agreed they would get itchy quite fast.

After choosing my fabric, Madam Malkin began pinning and clipping all around me, Elias and Phel sitting in chairs to the side of the room that looked far too small for them. I was quite satisfied with the whole experience, I wasn’t pricked once and the ice refilled in my glass when the water wasn’t cool enough. I would be glad to report to mother that it won’t be necessary to journey to Twilfitt and Tattings all the way in the shops on the SouthSide of Diagon Alley.

The fitting took about an hour, and Madam Malkin assured me that my robes would be done by the next evening at the latest and she was closing for the day to ensure they were perfect. I was pleased with the service as we left and knew mother would be too when we met up again.

The rest of the journey was quite boring, no one tried to tackle me, but there were quite a few pictures taken by hidden reporters. We finished shopping a few hours later, then apparated home where I skipped dinner in favour of a much needed nap.